Cliffhangers Don't Rattle Phantoms

HAMPTON — When Aerosmith released its hit single "Livin' on the Edge" 16 years ago, some of Phoebus' players had yet to be born. Those who had were still wearing diapers and eating Gerber's in a jar.

But if you want a theme song for the Phantoms' 2009 season to date, look no further. Four times Phoebus has trailed in the second half. And in all four games, the Phantoms managed to pull it out.

If you're head coach Stan Sexton, that's something of a mixed blessing. It's good that your kids are resilient and know how to fight back. It would be better to play 48 minutes and have no need for drama.

"Yeah, it's nice to know they have that desire to win," he said. "But I tell the kids all the time that someday, they'll run into somebody who won't let them come back."

Like, for instance, Stone Bridge, Saturday's opponent in the Group AAA Division 5 championship game in Charlottesville. With their ball-control and perplexing offense, the Bulldogs (13-1) are not the team you want to get behind.

Of course, it's not like the Phantoms (14-0) design it that way. It just happens. Let's revisit:

Oct. 2 vs. Woodside: The Wolverines lead 19-18 with 1:15 remaining, but a poor snap in punt formation gives Phoebus the ball at the Woodside 35-yard line. After converting a fourth-and-15, the Phantoms win 21-19 on a 39-yard field goal by Eric Enderson with nine seconds left.

Nov. 6 vs. Bethel: Phoebus falls behind 14-0 in the second quarter before tying it midway through the third. The Bruins move to the Phantoms' 10-yard line with less than two minutes left but then fumble the ball away. Enderson's 21-yarder in overtime wins it 17-14.

Nov. 27 vs. Lake Taylor: The Phantoms trail 13-10 in the fourth quarter, but Enderson sends it to overtime with 10 seconds left. After the Titans score and miss the extra point, Phoebus answers with a touchdown and gets the PAT from Enderson to win 20-19.

Dec. 5 vs. Hanover: The Phantoms trail 7-0 at halftime and 7-3 going into the fourth quarter before taking the lead for good on tailback Colby Goodwyn's touchdown with 8:36 left. They hold on for a 10-7 win.

Livin' on the edge!

"We've been doing it all year," Goodwyn said. "I guess we work pretty well under pressure. If it does come down to a close one, I have a lot of confidence in our team that we can pull it out."

"I guess that's how we get ourselves going," fullback/linebacker Chaz Robinson said. "That's our personality. But it's not something you want to live by. I'd rather win big."

That's what the Phantoms did last year. In 720 minutes of football, Phoebus never trailed - not for a second. The average victory margin was 44 points. Only one team (Lake Taylor, a 14-0 loser in the regional final) came within 35 points of the Phantoms.

This year, Phoebus has won blowouts - 63-0 over Gloucester, 54-3 over Heritage, 63-7 over Menchville, 47-0 over Denbigh and 42-0 over Great Bridge. But four times, the Phantoms were on the verge of defeat. And they won those four games by a total of nine points.

"We've been the comeback kings this year," quarterback/safety Paul Morant said. "As long as it's a 'W.' The comebacks are nice, but you want to blow them out."

Though none came down to last-second kicks, Stone Bridge has taken a similar path. Last season, its average margin of victory was nearly 42. But this year, the Bulldogs have won four games by three points each, two against teams that finished with losing records.

Sexton points out that Phoebus' four comeback wins came against playoff teams that finished with a combined record of 36-14. That, plus his kids' chutzpah, he likes.

"To teach what these kids have done is virtually impossible," he said. "It has to be learned through the years. They know they can win no matter what. That's the mentality you want.

"You never want your kids thinking they can't win. These guys think they can't lose. That doesn't mean we can't lose, but their mentality is to find a way to win. That's something you can't teach. You have to instill that over a course of years."